From the "What were they thinking file?!?"

[bykfixer]

Okay, I have to ask.... What do you drive that such silliness was part of the car's design.

In the old days we'd think the thermostat was stuck and replace it with a new one for $12. These days they use sensors. Sensors that cost hundreds of dollars in some cases and behave eratic at times.

 

[MrAl]

Ok to start with when it's cold the air in the duct system is cold.
The heating system receives heat from warm coolant running through a pair of hoses that heat up a small radiator called a "heater coil" that a squirrel cage fan sucks air from and blows it to the air duct. The warm coolant comes from the engine once a certain temperature is reached and warm coolant is now circulating.
All of that takes time.

Now, for the AC at first, it is automatic when the system is set for windshield defrost to keep warm air from suddenly hitting cold glass.

All of that used to take place via mechanical parts. These days sensors galore dictate the changes that occur in the climate control system along with some things that are still mechanical.

Yes, I am aware of all that, I had a Volvo that did that, which also makes no sense really because I had MANY other cars over the years that did not have AC and some that did, and none of them blew cold air when I turned on the heat, NONE of them, and they all worked just perfectly fine for years (at least 3 years each). That's until the Volvo. The manual in that said that it would come on with the heat too, and I was told that it was to keep the moisture down when defrosting the windshield glass. But who needs it? I never needed it before, I don't need it now, I don't want it now, I paid for the car, I don't want it in something I paid for. I should be able to disable it when I am sure I don't need it.
Also, no matter how long you let the car run it still does the same thing.

However, it's like anything else these days, you name it, including Windows OS. The designers think THEY know what is best for the users, yet they are just stupid punks who become bossy rather than try to think what the user wants. This is the state of the art.

 

[MrAl]

Okay, I have to ask.... What do you drive that such silliness was part of the car's design.

It says it right in the owners manual, it's a Buick (GM). I don't think I can do anything but show the section in the owners manual although I might be able to do an audio clip where you can hear the compressor clutch kick in. It takes two people though.

I guess John Cleese said it best as per your quote.

 

[MrAl]

In the old days we'd think the thermostat was stuck and replace it with a new one for $12. These days they use sensors. Sensors that cost hundreds of dollars in some cases and behave eratic at times.

At first I thought it might be low on water, but then I read the owners manual.

 

[bykfixer]

Cars have had the AC compressor kick on for decades, with the heater setting on. It removes condensation.
If your system doesn't get warm that's another issue.

 

[F89]

Cars have had the AC compressor kick on for decades, with the heater setting on. It removes condensation.
If your system doesn't get warm that's another issue.

My new(ish) car does that when I turn on the windscreen de-mister setting. You can manually turn off the air con (in this setting) by pressing the AC button and it'll still keep blowing air minus the AC. In all other modes the AC won't come on automatically if you turn the fan on first, from off the fan will come on with the AC if you activate it from the AC button.
When it's cold and wet nothing clears internal fogging on the windscreen faster than AC.

 

[leeholaaho]

Hello,

Ready to hear about another genius engineering marvel? You sure? You really sure?

Yesterday I got in my car and started it up and let it run for a little while. It was cold out so I turned the heat on ... or so I thought. What happened was there was no heat coming out of the vents no matter what the setting. It actually felt like the air conditioning was on. I had a friend turn the knob while I looked under the hood and listened for the air conditioner clutch mechanism that kicks in with a pretty loud clank when the AC compressor engages. That proved what I thought was true: the AC was turning on, not the heat. But all the knobs were in the right position so why would the AC come on. I figured there was something wrong with the heat/AC switch.

Today I get in the car and drive down the road. When I get to the store, I try the heat again. I get heat this time. I go into the store, but some food and stuff, come out to the car and drive away. I try the heat again, again very cold air.

I get home and look up the car manual. Well Lo and Behold, the car manual says that when you turn the heat on if the temperature outside is above 40 degrees F, the air conditioner comes on automatically.
WHAT ????????????????
So if the outside temperature is 41 degrees, I can't turn the heat on. That's still pretty cold so heat is needed inside the vehicle.

So, who was the genius engineer who decided to do that? If I pay $30k for a car and I turn the heat on when it's 45 degrees outside, I WANT THE HEAT TO FRIGGIN COME ON! Why wouldn't anyone want the heat to come on when it's that cold outside, I can't imagine anyone who would want that. And it's not just the heat that does not come on, the friggin air conditioner comes on!! So you get to freeze even more. Is that nuts or what?

What the heck is happening to this world?

It comes on to control humidity, they all do it since dirt was new. I had a 70 olds that did it.

 

[F89]

It comes on to control humidity, they all do it since dirt was new. I had a 70 olds that did it.

My 2000 model Toyota Corolla (great car by the way, even at 24 years old) doesn't do it, AC needs to be engaged manually.

My new car only automatically engages AC if you select windscreen de-mist with the fan already running (or from off )which saves you doing a second button press as you almost always want the AC running to de-mist, but you can still turn off AC in this mode and continue to run the fan.

It would probably annoy me if AC came on automatically in other modes (when I just want fan), more so if it couldn't be switched off and continue to run fan only.
The only time AC will come on in any mode (in my newer car) is if I engage AC from off by directly using the AC button (or auto climate control which I never use), or if I press the AC button with the fan already going.

Come to think of it there's multiple settings for adjusting AC in the menu from the touch screen. Can't remember what they are but there's something there for just about everything including stuff like the rain sensing windscreen wipers etc.

Remember the days when cars used to be simple and more importantly reliable.

 

[MrAl]

Cars have had the AC compressor kick on for decades, with the heater setting on. It removes condensation.
If your system doesn't get warm that's another issue.

Yes I read about that, and I have to say I can do without that for sure. I did without that with many cars over the years and it's just plain stupid. My windshields defrosted without that for years so it doesn't make that much sense to me.
Ok, if they really felt it was a good idea to them, then ok, "kudos" to them, but then they should have provided an override control switch which I now intend to add myself.

Either way, I would rather have heat than cold when it's 41 degrees F outside
I'm not even sure my quality sleeping bag works down that far in temperature.

 

[MrAl]

My new(ish) car does that when I turn on the windscreen de-mister setting. You can manually turn off the air con (in this setting) by pressing the AC button and it'll still keep blowing air minus the AC. In all other modes the AC won't come on automatically if you turn the fan on first, from off the fan will come on with the AC if you activate it from the AC button.
When it's cold and wet nothing clears internal fogging on the windscreen faster than AC.

Oh ok, for some reason they did not add that override control button/switch on this model. Don't know any reason except they think they know everything that everyone wants.

 

[MrAl]

It comes on to control humidity, they all do it since dirt was new. I had a 70 olds that did it.

Ok maybe mine blows TOO much cold air, or something. No override switch though in this one.

 

[bluflaam777]

Ok maybe mine blows TOO much cold air, or something. No override switch though in this one.

I had a car that I could turn off the AC during early startup/defrost/defog, but it would turn back on after a minute if conditions weren't 'just so'. There obviously was a sensor/computer being a smart-arse. It acted like windows and thought it should do what it thought it should do.

It did work tho. Like I mentioned I now live in a warmer climate where it rarely gets below 40* F but it does get foggy pretty often. The transition from cool/wet morning to warm sunny morning makes all the windows foggy. I have to ride around with the windows down until things stabilize or let the AC be mixed in with the defroster for a few.

 

[Monocrom]

It says it right in the owners manual, it's a Buick (GM). I don't think I can do anything but show the section in the owners manual although I might be able to do an audio clip where you can hear the compressor clutch kick in. It takes two people though.

I guess John Cleese said it best as per your quote.

Sadly, I'm not surprised it's a GM vehicle.
Lately they've been doing some weird things over at GM.
Turbo-charged 3-cylinder engines that have no real power.
Could have simply used a naturally aspirated 4-cylinder one.

 

[Monocrom]

It comes on to control humidity, they all do it since dirt was new. I had a 70 olds that did it.

My 2009 Mazda 6 V6 sSport trim doesn't do that.

 

[bluflaam777]

I remember now, back when they had physical sliders for controls, a lot of cars would automatically move either the AC control or the vent (if AC wasn't installed) when you slide the defroster on. It was that last bit when you slid it all the way over to defrost that either the vent or AC would activate. The AC was always on low but mixed with the defroster.

 

[leeholaaho]

Ok to start with when it's cold the air in the duct system is cold.
The heating system receives heat from warm coolant running through a pair of hoses that heat up a small radiator called a "heater coil" that a squirrel cage fan sucks air from and blows it to the air duct. The warm coolant comes from the engine once a certain temperature is reached and warm coolant is now circulating.
All of that takes time.

Now, for the AC at first, it is automatic when the system is set for windshield defrost to keep warm air from suddenly hitting cold glass.

All of that used to take place via mechanical parts. These days sensors galore dictate the changes that occur in the climate control system along with some things that are still mechanical.

Hello,

Ready to hear about another genius engineering marvel? You sure? You really sure?

Yesterday I got in my car and started it up and let it run for a little while. It was cold out so I turned the heat on ... or so I thought. What happened was there was no heat coming out of the vents no matter what the setting. It actually felt like the air conditioning was on. I had a friend turn the knob while I looked under the hood and listened for the air conditioner clutch mechanism that kicks in with a pretty loud clank when the AC compressor engages. That proved what I thought was true: the AC was turning on, not the heat. But all the knobs were in the right position so why would the AC come on. I figured there was something wrong with the heat/AC switch.

Today I get in the car and drive down the road. When I get to the store, I try the heat again. I get heat this time. I go into the store, but some food and stuff, come out to the car and drive away. I try the heat again, again very cold air.

I get home and look up the car manual. Well Lo and Behold, the car manual says that when you turn the heat on if the temperature outside is above 40 degrees F, the air conditioner comes on automatically.
WHAT ????????????????
So if the outside temperature is 41 degrees, I can't turn the heat on. That's still pretty cold so heat is needed inside the vehicle.

So, who was the genius engineer who decided to do that? If I pay $30k for a car and I turn the heat on when it's 45 degrees outside, I WANT THE HEAT TO FRIGGIN COME ON! Why wouldn't anyone want the heat to come on when it's that cold outside, I can't imagine anyone who would want that. And it's not just the heat that does not come on, the friggin air conditioner comes on!! So you get to freeze even more. Is that nuts or what?

What the heck is happening to this world?

The compressor running to clear moisture has nothing to do with the heat. If you motor is warm and heat is set on you should get heat. I made the mistake of stopping the compressor from running in winter and I learned my lesson quickly when every window fogged up in two microseconds while I was driving. The manufactures did not cost themselves meeting milage requirements lightly. If you get cold air with the right setting you have another problem. It also depends on where you live.

 

[MrAl]

Sadly, I'm not surprised it's a GM vehicle.
Lately they've been doing some weird things over at GM.
Turbo-charged 3-cylinder engines that have no real power.
Could have simply used a naturally aspirated 4-cylinder one.

Yeah I think it's because of the air pollution requirements. Fewer cylinders makes it easier to control the air pollution caused by the motor. Volvo went to a 5 cylinder, not sure if they do that anymore or not.

 

[MrAl]

The compressor running to clear moisture has nothing to do with the heat. If you motor is warm and heat is set on you should get heat. I made the mistake of stopping the compressor from running in winter and I learned my lesson quickly when every window fogged up in two microseconds while I was driving. The manufactures did not cost themselves meeting milage requirements lightly. If you get cold air with the right setting you have another problem. It also depends on where you live.

For some reason I never needed the air conditioner to run with the heat, but at least they should have some way for you to control it yourself. Maybe there is something wrong with the cold air / warm air mixture ratio in this car.

 

[Toulouse42]

Turbo-charged 3-cylinder engines that have no real power.
Could have simply used a naturally aspirated 4-cylinder one.

That's a common sense answer. Sadly, the regulations prioritise fuel economy above all else. My wife's car has a 3 cylinder 1000 cc turbo engine. Below 2000 rpm it's totally gutless. Above that its fine. My own car has a 4 cylinder 2000 cc turbo that's much the same. Below 2000 rpm not much go. Above 2000 it really is fast. To be honest I miss the low down torque of my old 3 litre engine.

 

[bykfixer]

Ford is doing their thing called eco-drive by adding a twin turbo, which is like giving red bull to a hamster. But with an 8 speed automatic in my wife's car it does ok. 0-60 sooner or later but 25-55 like it was shot out of a cannon.